At the end of the day, whether you’re taking a nostalgia trip back in time to revisit this classic or if you find yourself in Historia for the first time, it’s definitely worth playing.
This is an intense, clever, thoughtful and intellectually challenging JRPG that should remind people that when it comes to this genre, visual presentation and even the gameplay itself aren’t the drawcard. It’s that story that counts, and Radiant Historia manages to achieve something truly remarkable in giving players a time travelling plot that is genuinely interesting and worthwhile.
The core game here is already so strong and so engrossing that more content is good no matter how necessary it might be. I’m thrilled Radiant Historia is back on a modern system, especially since the new release is now the best, definitive way to experience a masterful RPG.
Many remakes and remasters fall short of reaching the success of their predecessors, but Perfect Chronology is not one of those. While the new content is mostly optional and the aesthetics virtually identical, the experience of the first Radiant Historia is preserved the way it should be, with the gameplay tweaks benefiting the overall experience.
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is a massive RPG for a handheld console with a serious and involving story that'll keep you hooked as you travel back and forth in time to unlock each new event only to finally reach the plot's satisfying climax.
Plenty of experimental RPGs failed miserably in the attempt, but Radiant Historia is one of the success stories. It held my interest just as well now as when I played it on the DS, and experiencing the new content was quite enjoyable. Hopefully the audience it didn't quite find in its initial release learns about it now, particularly the many outside North America who can now experience it without importing, and I give Atlus kudos for another top-notch title brought out of Japan.
SummaryIn the midst of an unending war for dominance between two super-powers, Special Intelligence Agent Stocke is assigned to a routine escort mission that goes horribly awry.